Which is better between Xpress H18/H17 and Lund renegade 1775/1875

[Joan Bush]

I'm looking into the Xpress H18 or H17 compared to the Lund Renegade 1775 and 1875. Does a riveted hull prevent cracking better than a thicker welded one? And which would be easier to fix if an issue came up? It's odd I don't see more about these models on the forum. Also, are Lund boats welded or riveted? I'm curious how the construction type affects durability and repair options.

 

[Oli.48]

Lund boats are known for their riveted construction. Generally, a thicker welded hull is going to be more resistant to cracking. Think of it like a solid piece versus pieces joined together.

 

[Joan Bush]

Lund boats are known for their riveted construction. Generally, a thicker welded hull is going to be more resistant to cracking. Think of it like a solid piece versus pieces joined together.

So thicker welded hulls resist cracking better, but Lund's riveted design is trusted for durability I am really curious which is easier to repair if damaged

 

[AutoAuthority]

@Joan Bush both of the boats are awesome. Now, the "better" one truly comes down to your personal priorities for ride, performance, and specific fishing style.

 

[jlake1958]

I like my Tyee 1850 plenty good, but the argument of repairability and maintenance with rivets is a bit of a red herring. If a rivet gets loose ANYWHERE in front of the consoles you are kinda screwed. Getting down to the hull is the problem up front---too much furniture above. Similarly, the gas tank takes up half the space under the rear decking and the places not obscured are filled with foam so not great there either. I do love the strength of the double rivet setup on the stern corners though.
If you ever get a chance, set a couple rivets sometime. Pretty interesting. You can really sense the strength of rivets and how much confidence you can have in structural rivets. Having said this, if you are very hard on your hull, you also realize that rivets can start leaking with regular impacts on rock or heavy gravel shorelines or beaches